Lightweight and Flexible Protective Equipment System

Abstract

A lightweight and flexible protective equipment system for effectively protecting a person from injury without significantly limiting their body movement or causing fatigue. The lightweight and flexible protective equipment system generally includes a plurality of compartments filled with a gas. The compartments are formed utilizing a first membrane attached to a second membrane at selected sealed portions along with a sealed perimeter. The first membrane and the second membrane are comprised of a plastic material capable of incurring significant impacts without rupturing. The protective padding may be covered by a shield to protect the exterior portion of the protective padding. The protective padding may be worn externally, internally or within the clothing of an individual to protect specific portions of the individual's body.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A personal protective padding for protecting an individual from injury, comprising:
 a protective padding including a plurality of compartments;   wherein said plurality of compartments are filled with a gas;   wherein said protective padding is comprised of a material impermeable to gas.   
     
     
         2 . The personal protective padding of  claim 1 , wherein said gas is comprised of air. 
     
     
         3 . The personal protective padding of  claim 1 , wherein said gas includes helium. 
     
     
         4 . The personal protective padding of  claim 1 , wherein said gas is comprised of a pressurized gas. 
     
     
         5 . The personal protective padding of  claim 1 , wherein said protective padding includes a sealed perimeter. 
     
     
         6 . The personal protective padding of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of compartments are comprised of at least two different sizes. 
     
     
         7 . The personal protective padding of  claim 1 , wherein said protective padding is comprised of a first membrane connected to a second membrane forming said plurality of compartments. 
     
     
         8 . The personal protective padding of  claim 7 , wherein said protective padding includes an inlet port fluidly connected to one of said plurality of compartments. 
     
     
         9 . The personal protective padding of  claim 8 , wherein two or more of said plurality of compartments are fluidly connected to one another. 
     
     
         10 . The personal protective padding of  claim 8 , including a connecting passage fluidly connecting at least two of said plurality of compartments. 
     
     
         11 . The personal protective padding of  claim 8 , wherein all of said plurality of compartments are fluidly connected to one another. 
     
     
         12 . The personal protective padding of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of compartments is comprised of an elongated tubular structure. 
     
     
         13 . The personal protective padding of  claim 12 , wherein more than one of said plurality of compartments is comprised of an elongated tubular structure. 
     
     
         14 . The personal protective padding of  claim 12 , wherein all of said plurality of compartments is comprised of an elongated tubular structure. 
     
     
         15 . The personal protective padding of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of compartments have a circular cross sectional shape. 
     
     
         16 . The personal protective padding of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of compartments have a rectangular cross sectional shape. 
     
     
         17 . A personal protective padding for protecting an individual from injury, comprising:
 a protective padding comprised of a first membrane connected to a second membrane forming a plurality of compartments;   wherein said plurality of compartments are filled with a gas;   wherein said protective padding is comprised of a material impermeable to gas.   
     
     
         18 . The personal protective padding of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of said first membrane and said second membrane is comprised of low-density polyethylene. 
     
     
         19 . The personal protective padding of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of said first membrane and said second membrane is comprised of multiple layer coextruded low-density polyethylene film with nylon. 
     
     
         20 . A personal protective padding for protecting an individual from injury, comprising:
 a protective padding comprised of a first membrane connected to a second membrane forming a plurality of compartments;   wherein said plurality of compartments are filled with a gas;   wherein said protective padding is comprised of a material impermeable to gas;   wherein at least one of said first membrane and said second membrane is comprised of multiple layer coextruded low-density polyethylene film with nylon;   wherein two or more of said plurality of compartments are fluidly connected to one another;   wherein at least one of said plurality of compartments is comprised of an elongated tubular structure; and   a shield positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of said protective padding, wherein said shield is comprised of a material having a rigidity substantially greater than said protective padding.